• To be gathered to a single location and kept occupied with activities
• Parents to pick up children between 5pm-5.30pm

The Women and Child Affairs Ministry is launching a programme for an identified group of 38 vulnerable children from Ratmalana as a pilot project, an initiation of redirecting the children in unsafe places towards safety. The project is expected to be launched in September.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, Ministry Secretary, Tharangani Wickramasinghe said that in the wake of it being reported that in some areas students face vulnerabilities as they come to the streets after school due to various reasons including their houses being unsafe. A pilot project starting from Ratmalana is to be launched to protect and redirect these children. "This is mostly happening in urban areas. It is reported that to some extent this is seen in villages also. Children come home after school, and, if the home is not safe enough for the child, or even if there is no activity to keep the child engaged, the child comes to the street. This child that comes to the street is vulnerable and can be harmed and they themselves can engage in harmful activities. We are planning to do a pilot project for that as well, and we will be able to start the project by September in Ratmalana," she said. She added the location for the aforesaid pilot project is under renovation under the Divisional Secretariat. “From some villages such incidents are being reported. In areas such as Divulagala, it is reported the child leaves the house because the father or the brother at home makes the home environment unsafe,” she added.

"We have identified that after gathering these children after school to one place, and by providing them with activities till around 5.30 p.m. until the child's parents come to collect the child, it prevents the child from engaging in this practice. With the collaboration of the catholic fathers and sisters in the church from that area, we are hoping to build them a safe environment," she said. "In there, we can identify their skills and guide them towards a profession as well. Some children might not sustain in academics, yet, there will be other areas that they are passionate about," she added. She also said that as of now, children coming to beg in the streets from morning is not seen in the country. Yet, this practice of children coming to streets can happen in the evening at places like Borella, Ratmalana, and Maradana. She added these children that come out could be used by unfit parties for various purposes and that it is a must to protect the child. The initiative is expected to be spread to other needed areas as well.